Sri Lanka activates emergency measures for tourists, migrant workers as Middle East unrest deepens
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka has introduced a package of emergency measures to protect foreign tourists stranded in the country and safeguard its migrant workers in the Middle East, as escalating regional unrest disrupts air travel and raises fears for the safety of nationals abroad.
The decisions were announced Monday (2) by the President’s Media Division (PMD) following a high-level meeting convened the previous day at the Presidential Secretariat, chaired by Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe and Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
With airspace closures across parts of the Middle East leaving travellers unable to complete journeys home, the government has moved to grant tourists currently in Sri Lanka a free 14-day visa extension. The Foreign Ministry has been directed to work with airlines to identify alternative flight routes for those seeking to depart, and parallel discussions are underway with industry stakeholders to ensure that visitors still planning to travel to Sri Lanka can do so despite the disruptions.
On the ground, several state institutions have shifted to round-the-clock operations. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has established a dedicated assistance unit reachable via the 1912 hotline, while the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has activated a special operations centre – accessible on 1989 – to support migrant workers in the region.
The Foreign Ministry is coordinating with all Sri Lankan diplomatic missions across the Middle East and Gulf to activate an integrated emergency response mechanism, with missions placed on standby alongside the Bureau of Foreign Employment to respond swiftly to any crisis affecting Sri Lankan nationals.
The government said an urgent action plan was being developed in coordination with relevant embassies to ensure the safety, welfare, and necessary support for all visitors remaining in the country during the period of regional uncertainty.
-ENCL
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